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<\/p>\nThe soil beneath our feet is our foundation of life. But what happens when this very foundation is destroyed? The current situation is alarming: worldwide, agricultural land is being devastated at an unprecedented rate.
\nIt\u2019s not just about the loss of land, but also about billions of tons of fertile soil lost to erosion.
\nAnd that\u2019s not all:<\/p>\n
Every year, land use changes alone \u2013 such as deforestation, draining of wetlands, and overexploitation of soils \u2013 release around 3.9 billion tons of CO\u2082.
\nThe CO\u2082 that can no longer be stored by soils and plants ends up in the atmosphere.
\nThe oceans are forced to absorb billions of tons more CO\u2082 each year \u2013 and are already overloaded.
\nThe consequences: acidification, species extinction, and an accelerating climate crisis.
\nAgriculture, which is supposed to feed us, is not only a victim but also a perpetrator. It plays a major role in land degradation \u2013 with fatal consequences for people and the environment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Every year, around 23 to 26 billion tons of fertile topsoil are lost worldwide due to erosion \u2013 that\u2019s about 14 to 16 tons per hectare per year.
\nAt the same time, several million hectares of agricultural land disappear every year due to overuse, sealing, and conversion. According to current forecasts, up to 95 percent of the Earth\u2019s surface could be degraded by 2050 if we continue as we are.
\nOften, new land is created by deforestation or slash-and-burn, while the old, devastated areas are rarely restored.<\/p>\n
Example: Germany:
\nCurrently, around 109 hectares of agricultural land are repurposed every day for settlements, transport, renewable energy, or nature conservation measures.<\/p>\n
The devastation of the original land continues \u2013 it is rarely restored. Instead, new land is created by deforestation or converting natural areas into farmland.
\nThis has fatal consequences for biodiversity and the climate.
\nThis means:
\nWe are losing not only fertile soils but also forests, wetlands, and grasslands that are irreplaceable as natural carbon sinks.
\nCO\u2082 storage capacity drops dramatically.<\/p>\n
Soils, forests, and wetlands are gigantic carbon stores. If they are destroyed, the stored CO\u2082 is released \u2013 and the land can no longer absorb new CO\u2082.
\nThe consequences:
\nDevastated land: Hardly stores any CO\u2082 \u2013 humus is lost, soil is depleted.
\nDeforested land: Can no longer absorb CO\u2082 \u2013 and clearing often releases additional CO\u2082.
\nWetlands: When drained and used for agriculture, their climate protection effect reverses: they release huge amounts of CO\u2082.
\nThe result:
\nWe have to release billions of tons more CO\u2082 into the atmosphere every year \u2013 and at the same time, we lose the natural sinks that could help us protect the climate.
\nAnd the CO\u2082 that we can no longer store in soils and forests ends up in the already overloaded and dying oceans.<\/p>\n
Agriculture is largely responsible for the devastation of agricultural land. But it can also be part of the solution.
\nWhat can we do?
\nWe urgently need a systemic shift toward sustainable and regenerative methods \u2013 for healthy soils, secure food, and a livable future.
\nRegenerative agriculture: Building humus, promoting biodiversity, protecting against erosion.
\nMultiple land use: For example, agri-PV \u2013 combining agriculture and photovoltaics on one area.
\nWetland protection and rewetting: Wetlands are climate protectors \u2013 they must not be further drained.
\nReforestation: New forests store CO\u2082 and create habitats.<\/p>\n
Agriculture is killing the environment \u2013 and we are all feeling the consequences. But we can change things.
\nNow is the time to take responsibility and fight together for a sustainable future.
\nOur soils and forests are our foundation of life. If we lose them, we lose everything.<\/p>\n
Key figures at a glance:
\nLoss of fertile soil: 23\u201326 billion tons per year due to erosion
\nCO\u2082 emissions from land use changes: approx. 3.9 billion tons per year
\nOceans: Have to absorb billions of tons more CO\u2082 every year \u2013 and are already overloaded<\/p>\n
We are all called upon \u2013 for healthy soils, vibrant forests, and a livable future!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Author: Francesco del Orbe<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" – Oops, did you know? The soil beneath our feet is our foundation of life. But what happens when this very foundation is destroyed? The current situation is alarming: worldwide, agricultural land is being devastated at an unprecedented rate. It\u2019s not just about the loss of land, but also about billions of tons of fertile…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":23096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[182,185,602,196],"tags":[261,253,254,263,307,267,260,255,264,349,265,250,259,346,262,268,350,308,348,207,266,347],"class_list":["post-23094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","category-climate-and-environment","category-forest-and-trees","category-guardian-of-the-earth","tag-biodiversity","tag-carbonneutral","tag-climate-action","tag-climate-change","tag-climate-farm","tag-climate-protection","tag-co2-binding","tag-earth-guardian","tag-ecosystem","tag-famine","tag-farming","tag-fresopolis","tag-healthy-soil","tag-hunger","tag-microclimate","tag-planting","tag-poisoning","tag-regenerative-agricultura","tag-species-extinction","tag-sustainability","tag-sustainable","tag-worldhunger"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n